Hello everyone,
I maybe late to the party with this review but I do think Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands is worth the read. I loved this books it was of my favorite reads last year. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for the advanced copy of the book. This post may contain spoilers for the novel.
Here are the quick facts:
eBook
Publishers: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey
Publishing Date: January 9, 2024
Genre: General Fiction/ Sci Fi & Fantasy
Rating: 5/5 stars
342 pages
This book picks up shortly after the last one ended. Emily, who now knows that Wendell is the king of a faerie realm, is helping him find a faerie door back home. Emily and Wendell are searching for a portal that will take him back to his faerie realm where he is the king but was usurped by his stepmother. They go to St. Liesl to follow the work of Danielle de Gray, who vanished while looking for faerie doors. On this trip they’re accompanied by Emily’s niece Ariadne and the head of their department, Dr. Farris Rose, who thinks they’re up to no good.
I really enjoyed this book , far more than I enjoyed the first. Fawcett really found her voice and writing style in this second book. The pace was much faster and it felt like I was experiencing much less tell than show. I know this probably has to do with the fact that there didn't need to be as much world building in this book compared to the first one. I also really enjoyed the addition of Ariadne and Dr. Farris. They helped create a more flushed out group of characters. I also really enjoyed Farris' character development and overall arc. I love the romance between Emily and Wendell because they make such an unexpected pair. Wendell tends to have a flair for the dramatic whereas Emily is far more analytical and grounded. Fawcett's use of Wendell as a narrator in Emily's book also showcases her ability to create a different tone for different characters.
The only negative I can think of is that I feel like the arc could have benefitted from a map, something that reflected the work that Emily was putting into finding these faerie doors and help ground the story in a physical way.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, more than the first, and I’m excited for the next book, Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales which comes out in 2025. Thank you again to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for the advanced copy. Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands is available now.
Until Next time!
Links
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Emily-Wildes-Otherlands-Heather-Fawcett-ebook/dp/B0C2PB1Z4J/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/emily-wildes-map-of-the-otherlands-heather-fawcett/1143754218
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